Electric connecter



Oct. 5 ,1926. 1,602,221

c. E. GoDLr-:Y

ELECTRIC CONNECTER Filed March 26, 1925 Patented Get.V 5, 1926.

l ns n. eoDLEY, or nnrnorr, MIcHrGAiL'AssIGNoa To nDMUNDs a .ioNEs cmfPOBATION, F DETRQT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK. f

ELECTRIC CONNECTER.

Application led March 26, 1925. Serial No. 18,895.

able plug carrying a set of wire terminalsis mounted in a socketcarrying another set of terminals, and in which the terminals of the twosets are normally held in contacting relation Connecters of this classas employed on automobiles have commonly been constructed with bayonetslots formed on the shell of the socket and interlocking with projectingpins on the wire-carrying plug. In practice, such a bayonet jointarrangementis object-ional for many reasons', one being the looseness ofthe connected parts, which looseness not only leads to rattling noisesbut sometimes even permits the interlocking pins to be shaken out of thebayonet slots. Another objection is due to the ready entrance of dustand moisture into the space between the plug and the terminal-carryinbody member of the socket, thereby allowlng the dust to interfere withthe adequate contacting of the wire terminals and either interruptingthe circuit O r causing a sparking between the contacts.

To allow for the partial retraction of the plug` after its insertion inthe shell, as is required with a bayonet siot construction, vit is alsonecessary to employ spring means for keeping the contacting terminalportions in engaging relation. Heretofore, the needed sprmg means havecommonlyv been provided by using spring-pressed plungers as thecontacting portions of the wire terminals on either the socket or theplug,

thereby depending partly on springs for carrying the current and partlyon a circuit connection through relatively slidable parts. Or, where thewire terminals of the socket have been mounted on a spring-pressed bodyslidable in a socket shell,'the sliding arrangel ment has not permittedthe several terminals of the socket toadjust themselves independently soas to compensate for any lack of uniformity in size or shape of variousparts of the socket and the plug. Owing to this fact, such aconstruction often affords a poor contact or connection to one wire,this being particularly noticeable with connecters employed formaking'electrical connections to more than -two wires. Soalso, since theplug of a connecter has tobe partially rotated in attaching it to a.socket when a bayonet joint is employed; the plug terminals tend tocatch on the socket terminals,

andl if one of the terminals pro 'ects unduly, a careless user ma use somuc force as to damage some of t e parts of the connecter.

`My invention aim's to overcome all of the above named objections to the-connecters heretofore employed, whilealso providing a strong,inexpensive and 'compact connecter' construction. With this in imnd, minventionl provides a connecter which wil permitI a rigid fastening ofveach set of wires to metal terminals contacting directly with theterminals of other wires, thereby avoiding the necessity of havinthrough slidably connecte parts or through springs. y lnvention alsoprovides spring means for effectively maintaining the engagement of @theassociated contact terminals, provides a construction for this pur-lposewhlchu will readily permit the use of relatively' large springs,provides for the in-g dependent a.d]usting of the contacts between anycurrent passa each engaging pair of wire terminals, and.

provides simple mea-ns for preventing the contacts. on the socket fromshifting out of proper alinement with the contacts carried by the plug.l

Furthermore, my invention rovides simple and eilective means*for-rigidly supporting such a connecter, rovides means associated withthe plug or connecting the plug to the casing of an armored cable whichcarries the wires to the ^plug, and

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provides a connecter which is entirely sealed against the entrance ofdust. vIt also proi vides a. construction in which a tubulaisupportingmember can readily be secured to the support for the socket portion ofthe connecter and in which the other parts can readiy be attached to (ordetached from) this supporting member, and provides simple means forpreventing a detaching of the socket proper from the supporting memberduring the attaching of the plug or while the plug is detached. v Stillfurther and also more detailed objects will appear from the followingspecilication and from the accompanying .drawings,`in which-' A l y Fig.ll is a side@ elevation of a connecter embodying my invention, showingthis as it appears when attached to a supporting plate through which' itextends:

Fig. 2 is an end view of the samel conl necter, taken from the left handof Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view takenirom the top of Fig. 1, with the tubularsupporting member and the plug sleeve in central and longitudinalsection.

Fig. 4 is a central and longitudinal section taken at right angles toFig. 3, with a portionV of the insulating body of the plug leftunsectioned.

Fig. 5 is a section taken transversely thipugh Fig. 4 along the line5-5.

i 'showtcing the arrangement of the insulating parts and thewireterminal heads of the socket of my connecter in a three-wire form.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one of the insulating parts of thesocket of Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, this` includes asupporting member in the form of a cylindricaltube 1 adapted to extendthrough a corresponding perforation in a sup ort, such as a plate 2, andhaving intermediate its end a peripheral bead 3 adapted to engagetherear face o such a support while the forward endn of the tube 1 isflared outwardly to form a flange 4 engaging the forward face of thesupport, thereby clamping the tubular y,supporting member rigidly to thesupport.

Slidably inserted into this tubular supporting member from the rearthereof is a socket shell having a cylindrical wall 5 fitting the boreof the tubular member. This wall 5 has near its rear end three outwardlyprojecting fingers which are sildaibly received by corresponding slots-7in the tubular member 1, so as to prevent the` socket shell fromrotating in the rigidly supported tubular member, and so that theengagement of these fingers with the forward ends of the said slots willlimit the forward sliding of the socket shell into that member. Thetubular member also is provided near its rear end with a pair ofperforations spaced circumferentially of this member, so that afastening element (shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a spring cotter 8) can beinserted through these perforations behind the rear end 9 of the socketshell to-preyent this shell from being rearwardly slid during theattaching of the plug parts.

Y,Theshell end 9 has perforations corresponding in number to the numberof wires to which circuit connections are to be provided, namely two inthe case of the double pole form shown in Figs. l to 6'. Each of thesewires 10 is connected at its forward end to a contact 11 which forms thecorresponding wire terminal of the socket, vthis contact being hereshown as the head of a tack having its stem inserted between the strandsof the core of a corresponding wire .10. Each of the wire terminals issupported in a fixed position transversely of the socket shell by meanspermitting it to be moved longitudinally of the socket independently 6is a section similar to Fig. 5, f

of the other wire terminals.l Forthis purose, I am showing each of thecontacts (or tack heads) 11 as' seated on an annular shoulder 12 formingthe y'bottom of the enlarged upper portion of tends longitudinallythrough an insulator 14 disposed within the socket shell, and am showingthe wire as expanded by the stem of the tack so as to wedge it in thebore 13.

Each of the insulators has its main portion formed as a semicylinder 14corresponding inl diameter to the bore of the cylindrical socket shell5, and the two insulators have their flat longitudinal edges abuttingagainst each other as shown inFig. 5. Each insulator also desirably hason its arcuate edge an outwardly directed projection 15 which extendsinto a longitudinal slot 16 of corresponding width in the socket shell,so that l the longitudinal walls of the slots engage the projection toprevent rotational movement of the insulator about the axis of thesocket.

f Interposed between each of the insulators 14 and the rear en d 9 ofthe socket shell is a -compression spring 17, the insulator desirablyhaving its said bore 13 enlarged in diameter at its rear end so as toafford an enlarged bore portion housing the spring for a part of itslength as shown in Fig. 4. Each of these springs continuously urges theadjacent --insulator forwardly of the a bore 13 which exsocketindependently of the other insulator,

as the abutting edges (which are disposed in a plane diametric of thesocket) permit the insulators to slide on each other. More over, eachslot 16 has its forward end wall disposed so as to engage the projection15 on the adjacent insulator to limit the forward movement of thisinsulator by the spring which presses against it.

Extending into the socketshell from the front or mouth end thereof is aninsulator in the form of a cylinder 18 which carries the wireterininalsfor the other set of wires 19. This insulator also has the wireterminals rigidly fastened to it, the terminal being here shown `ascomprising a screw 20 having its head exposed behind the insulator 18and directly engaging one of the contacts 11 of the socket, a bodymember 21 threaded at one end upon the screw Q0 and provided at itsother end with ,a loop Q2 through which a free end of the core of thewire 19 is hooked, and a screw 23 arranged for clamp- \this hookedportion of the wir(` against the bight of the loop. The insulatingcylinder is slidable in the socket shell. but is kept from rotating` inthis shell by n pin 30 fast on the cylinder and projecting into alongitudinal slot 3l in the socket shell, as shown in Fig. 3. l

Bearing against the front end of the insulating cylinder 18 is anannular flange Q4 on therear end of a ferrule 25 through 'which thewires 19 extend. This flange is iio overhung by an inwardly directedannular flange 26 on a plug `sleeve 27l which has its rear end portionthreaded on its interior so as to be screwed upon the forward portion ofthe socket shell 5. This sleeve 27 has its rear end normally engagingthe forward end of the' tubular supporting member l, for which purposethe sleeve. desirably has at its rear end an outwardly directly annularflange 28.

With the parts thus arranged, it will be seen from Fig. 4 that when thesleeve 27 is screwed upon the forward end of the socket shell, theflange 26 will press rearwardly through the flange 24 of the nip leagainst the insulating cylinder 18, there y sliding this insulatorrearwardly against the pressure exerted through the springs 17 and thesemi-cylindrical insulators 14 on the wire terminals, the parts beingvsoproportioned in length that the springs 17 will be somewhat compressedbefore the flange 28 of the plug sleeve 27 engages the forward end ofthe tubular supporting member. This engagement of the plug sleeve Wit-hthe supporting member. limits the extent to which the springs arecompressed, so as to prevent the springs Vfrom being over-strained orentirely collapsed. It also locks the sleeve 27 against accidentalrotation and holds the various socket parts iirmly assembled so that -fthere will be no rattling.

Furthermore, the said engaging' of the flange 28 with thesupportingmember, together with the clamping of the nip le iiange 24between theinsulatin cylindbr and the forward end fiange 26 o Ithe plugsleeve prevent the entrance of dust into the sleeve, While the forwardend of the nipple 25 aan readily be sealed by a suitable ta ingii of thewires 19 or by soldering the lnipp e .to the casing 29 of an armoredcable of which the wires 19 form a part. Consequently,.the entireforward end of the connecter is effectively sealed against the entranceof moisture and dust, which was not possible with connecter and plugconstructions of the bayonet slot type. So also, since the vvariousportions of the casing are firmly clamped together, all looseness orrattling is avoided, and the sleeve 27 can readily be -screwed up sotightly against the forward end of the tubular supporting member as toguard against an accidental loosening. To facilitate the neededrotating' of the plug, sleeve, I desirably knurl this near its forwardend, as shown at 32 in Fig. 1.

To facilitate the assembling of the socket, I desirably bevel the rearportions of the iametric flat edges of the semi-cylindrical insulators14 as shown in Fig. 4, thereby enabling me to insert one of theseinsulators in'v the shell 5 after the other has been placed in position.When the connecter is completelyv assembled, the providing of separate-wlre terminals of the socket portion of the connecter permitstheseinsulatorsto slide indelpendently of each other longitudinally of te connecter, thereby compensating for any variations in the lengths ofthe contacting portionsof the associated terminals or in' the mountingof the latter, each spring to eiiect a irm contacting of the two wirecontacting terminalsA with whlch it is associated. Owing to thisprovision, my connecter is particularly suited for use with heavycurrents, such as those encountered with connectors used on automobiletrucks. f

i However, I do not wish to be limited to the `various details of theconstruction or arrangement'here disclosed, it bein y vious 'that manymodifications mig t be made without departing either from the spirit ofmy invention or from the a pended claims. Neither do I w1sh tolimitedyto the use of my invention 1n connection with double-pole'.connecters, as. the same underlying principles may also be employedadvantageously for makmg the connections to a, larger number of wiresFor example, Fi 6 shows the insulating socket partsv as comprising.three 'sectors' which when assembled will correspond 'to a cylmderslidably fitting the bore of the socket shell, each insulating sectorhaving anout- -Wardlydirected projection 15 entering a correspondinglongitudinal slot in the socket shell 5. vIn either case, I desirablymake the insulating parts of the socket of my connecter of aconsiderable ength. therebysecuring an extenslve bearing of these partsboth on the socket shell and on each other, so as to prevent theinsulators Lfrom beingtilted. yBy extendm springs into such relativelythick insu ators, I shorten the length required between the backs ofthe' insulators and `the rear end of the socket shell, thereby stillsecuring acompact construction. Moreover, the shortness of each'wireportion between the shell end and the -part of the Wire fastened 'to theinsulator" prevents any material bending of that wire portion, thuscooperatmg with the friction of the spring on the shell endin preventingrotational movement of the sectional insulating member in thesocketshell. Hence the projections 150m the insulators might be omitted,though 4I preferabl employ them so as to permit an easier s lding ofeach Wire through a shell end perforation of a diameter closelyapproaching that of the wire.

Since the projections on the insulators of the socket prevent theassemblage of insulators from rotating in the socket shells, the socketwires 10 are always maintained in the same positions rotationally of thesocket shell. Consequently, these wires can extendA and permitting fortion spring means respectively urging 4 tending slidably ward endthereof, a second pair of wire terslidably the shell closelyapproximating the outside diameter of the wires, thereby substantiallysealing the rear end of the shell also against the entrance of dust andmoisture.

Moreover, since the socket portion of my connecter is detachably held inposition in the tubular supporting member by the spring cotter, allother parts of the connecter can readily be attached to this supportingmember after both .sets of wire terminals have been connected to thecorresponding wires. This makes it easy for the user to wire theconnecter proper, as also to detach the same from the supporting memberfor an inspection of the connecterl parts at any time.

I claim as my invention 1. In a connecter, a tubular supporting member,la connecter shell slidably inserted into the supporting member from therear of the latter; the said member and shell having cooperatingformations engaged during the said slidable insertion for preventingrelative rotation of the said members and for limiting the forwardsliding of the shell with respect to thesupporting member; and clampingmeans threaded on the shell and engaging a forward portion of thesupporting member to prevent rearward movement of the shell.

2. A connecter as per claim l, in combination with two sets ofrelatively iiiterengaging wire terminals disposed in the shell, andmeans actuated by the screwing of the clamping means on the shell forforcibly approaching one set of wire terminals to the other.

A connecter comprising a shell open of wire terminals shell for slidableof the shell, two lthe said wire terminals forwardly; an insulatorexinto the shell from the for- 3. at itsjforward end, a pair slidablysupported in the movement longitudinally minals mounted on the insulatorand respectively engaging the first named wire terminals, and meansthreaded on the shell for forcing .the insulatonrearwardly incombination with a tubular support in which the shell is slidablymounted, and cooperating stop means on the shell and support forlimiting the forward sliding of the shell with respect to the support;Athe threaded means having a portion engaging the tubular support,whereby a. rotation of the threaded means (in the direction in which thelatter Vforces the insulator rearwardly) through rear end perforationsin' will slide the shell forwardly with respect to the tubular supportso as to force the said cooperating stop means into engagement.

4. In a socket or connecter, a shell, a pair of laterally ing injointcontour to the bore of the shell and having their contiguous edgeportions disposedl in a plane diametric of the shell, the insulatorsbeing independently slidable longitudinally of the shell, the shellhaving a pair of longitudinal slots and each insulator having aprojection slidably housed by one of the said slots, a pair of wireterminals respectively fast on the insulators, and a pair of coiledsprings each interposed between one of the insulators and a part of theshell and each arranged for urging the corresponding insulator and wireterminal away from the said part of the shell independent cof the otherinsulator and wire terminal. l

5. A connecter comprising a shell having a substantially cylindricallateral wall and a rear end provided with a plurality of perforations, aplurality of laterally adjoined insulators conforming conjointly inperipheral contour to the bore of theJ shell and loosely helde inlaterally adjoined relation by the said bore, the insulators havingadjoined edges 1n planes diametric of the shell and being independentlyslidable longitudinally of the shell and each having a bore alining withone of the perforations in the shell end; wires respectively extendingslidably through the said perforations and each. extending into theinsulator bore which alines with the corresponding perforation, Wireterminals respectively projecting forwardly from theseveral insulatorsand each rigidly securing the free end of one wire to the insulatorbeyond which that wire terminal projects,`-and compression springs eachinterposed Albetween the rear shell end and one of the insulators; thedistance between adjoined insulators correspondf each insulator and therear shell end being so short as to revent a material bending of thewire portion between that insulator and' the rear shell end, therebycooperating with the slidable engaging of the shell end perforations bythe wires and the said adjoining CHARLES E. GODLEY.

